Blood Father: Had This Been Made Before We Saw The Real Mel, It Would've Made A Ton Of Money

Do you guys remember Mel Gibson? No, I mean really remember him? I'm not talking about Mel Gibson whose voice we heard ripping his wife a new asshole full of racism, sexism, hate, and just overall being a contemptible human being.  I mean on-screen Gibson.  Yes, Mel Gibson in real life is, unfortunately, a piece of shit.  It's getting worse and worse to know that on-screen presences of actors we truly adore turn out to be monsters behind the camera. But, I've always had a soft spot for Mel. I don't think I'd really like to get to know the guy or hang out or anything, but Mel Gibson in his movies is my favorite Mel. Do you remember that Mel Gibson? Do you remember Lethal Weapon Mel? Ransom Mel? Maverick, Payback, The Patriot, Signs, Braveheart Mel??? He's not just one of the best action stars of our lifetime, he actually makes good action movies because he's a likable screen presence. However, due to being a human pig shit, his career has essentially gone kaput. No one wants to actively give Mel Gibson their money, not matter how much they can't deny that the dude makes really good movies.  I had a small glimmer of hope that Blood Father would be the movie to get Mel to movie theaters so I could watch it on the big screen.  Unfortunately, people have still not been able to forgive and forget as Blood Father hit three theaters within a 100 mile radius of me (and I live in L.A.).  However, because I have such a hard-on for Mel Gibson revenge killing people in a grungy desert setting, I coughed up the $6.99 to watch it On-Demand and I have to say the only disappointment I have with the movie... is that I didn't get to watch it on the big screen.

Most of you probably haven't heard of Blood Father. And chances are those that haven't heard of it aren't even reading this review. The few that are, let me tell you how awesome this movie is.  First off, we get crazy Mel Gibson with full tattoos and menacingly long grey beard. He's got a lot of hurt behind those eyes and could crack at any second.  He plays Link, an ex-con who has been in and out of prison his entire life.  He's finally decided to quit screwing up his life and everyone else's.  He's on parole, he's sober, and he's living in trailer on the beach doing tattoos.  His life is going fine (hanging out with his AA sponsor William H. Macy) until his estranged 17-year-old daughter calls him up to tell him she's in some deep shit with the Mexican cartels. Now, the cartels are sending low-level guys to kill her all the way up to some terrifying Sicarios to kill her and the only one who can save her... yup... Mel fucking Gibson.

What makes this movie isn't just the charisma that Mel Gibson still retains.  It's hard to remember just how watchable of an actor he really is because he hasn't done a lot in the past decade, but once you get into the movie, it's like he never left (or said and did awful things in real life).  But, what makes the movie is that it's not just your typical revenge thriller action movie.  There is a serious amount of depth to each of the characters. Gibson isn't just this hardened ex-con turned killer now that his daughter is in trouble.  He's a man who has had to face the fact that his past, the majority of his life, has been wasted in prison and drunk.  He never got to be there as a father for his daughter and the sins of his past has washed off onto her.  He experiences real pain as he watches her go down the same paths he did when he was younger.  He's tough, but loving.  He's a badass, but he's human. He's cunning, but impulsive. It's a great character.  Liam Neeson's writers should watch this movie and take note of everything that's been missing from his action films lately.

There's also a very necessary grit to the movie that separates it from standard action fare.  It's got the outer appearance of a Saturday afternoon shoot 'em up, but the spine to be able to stand out above the rest. I watch these movies to see Gibson killing people in inventive and brutal ways (and he does) but what elevates it above the rest is that I actually care about these characters. They're humanized beyond the standard action fare. By the end, I am actually rooting for them to succeed not just because I've been told to understand they are the protagonists but because I actually care about them as characters. And also because there's a lot of shooting and stabbing and killing and blood and Mel Gibson dropping F-bombs like an insane person and literally calling almost anyone on the bad-guy-side a 'cocksucker'.  It's a thoroughly enjoyable film. 

B+